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rving Catholics in
News & Herald
Western North Carolina
Volume
in the Diocese of Charlotte
1
Number 20 • January
24, 1992
50 At Mass For The Unborn Hear lea To Promote Cause Of Life KAY FILAR
By
CHARLOTTE their
unique
— Everyone
gifts to
should
promote the cause
said Father Ed Sheridan, pastor of St.
life,
ibriel,
at a special
abortion
ough diocesan programs.
:nts
are called to be "instru-
of change in our society," he said.
The Mass was concelebrated by BishJohn F. Donoghue and Michael J. gley to mark the 19th anniversary of the preme Court Roe
vs.
can create the climate
in
said Father
Sheridan.
Father Sheridan urged his listeners to evaluate world events and take a stand in
Jan. 19.
Not everyone is called to be on the front picketing, marching and participating rescues, Father Sheridan told about 850 jple who attended the afternoon Mass. it is everyone comfortable working di:tly with people who need counseling all
we
which miracles can happen,
Mass calling for an end
on Sunday,
However,
or school,"
Wade decision that
whatever way God directs. This
will lead to
a "reawakening of the value of life given by
God, which no one has the right to take away," he said. Linda James, a St. Gabriel parishioner and mother of two children, attended the
Mass
to learn
tion,
she said.
more about the
As
a
new
pro-life posi-
Catholic
who
completed RCIA classes less than two years ago, this
was her
first
involvement
in pro-
life activity.
home
without
religious connections, she said.
Conse-
James grew up
a
in
issues often conflict with the positions of
A reading >spel
for the
Mass was from
the
account of the miracle at the Cana
which Mary prayed unceasand his ministry, and asked Jesus' help when she was concerned out a problem. She followed her prayers d questions with action by doing and couraging others to "do whatever (the dding
in
>ly for her Son
«d)
her family. Father Sheridan's message confirmed
her feelings against abortion and helped easier to
convey her feelings
family and others, she said.
ason.
tell
ace in gatherings such as this
one today
BELMONT— With the rite of abbatial
like
many
others,
members of
whether new
the pro-life ranks,
blessing, Benedictine Father Oscar Burnett,
became the seventh abbot of Belmont Abbey on Jan. 19. He was elected on Dec. 21, 1991; chosen by his brother monks at Belmont Abbey to serve as abbot. 65,
the long and difficult
work
Filar
is
a member of St. Gabriel
opportunity
is
In his
in
of hospi-
many, many
comments following
the cer-
better place for our having lived here," said
monks, that living family of faith and love which he has been called to serve." Under the Rule of St. Benedict, the abbot is called father, teacher, shepherd and administrator. He helps and guides the monastic coummunity and indivdual monks to realize the charism expressed in the Rule
Abbot
new
abbot. Bishop
In his charge to the
Donoghue
presented at home, office
and brotherly support ways."
tality
He
the
d through action and speaking out when :
plified their Benedictine traditions
depends upon the assistance of his brother
on
Donoghue
also
served as main celebrant and homilist.
Parish in Charlotte.
since I first came to Charlotte in 1984. The Abbey has shown to my priests a great sense of fraternity. The monks have exem-
emony, Abbot Burnett said "God has extravagantly blessed Belmont Abbey over the past 1 1 5 years. All of you people of God have made our mission in North Carolina and beyond possible and successful." "We monks pledge our continued work and prayer in collaboration with you so that our educational and pastoral works might make our lives better and our locality a
Mass, Bishop John F. Donoghue of the Diocese of Charlotte confered the blessing
ahead.
Installed In
me
In a monastic-centered, concelebrated
Gabriel with renewed energy and
Kay
JOANN KEANE
Photo by
Associate Editor
is
said.
d families, through asking for the Lord's
Belmont Abbey
conferring the abbatial
BY JOANN KEANE
also under-
does not always favor their methods, she
commitment to
you." (John 2:5)
"Through daily prayer as individuals
It
While James supports demonstrators, she
left St.
Donoghue
Ceremony At Belmont Abbey
called to demonstrate at abortion clinics.
or veteran
Burnett, inside the
F.
Seventh Benedictine Abbot
to her
scored her feelings that not everyone
James,
Bishop John
new convictions about pro-life
quently, her
Twenty clergy from the Charlotte area listed. Music was provided by the St. ibriel parish choir directed by Mary Richie 1 accompanied by organist Esther Gregg, mist Ann Fehring and flutist Sharon
it
installed Jan. 19 with
blessing.
erturned laws restricting abortion.
made
Belmont Abbey's seventh abbot, Benedictine Abbott Oscar Church where he was
to be an abbot.
receives it is
of
It is
abbot, Bishop
it is
no easy
task
a heavy burden that each
on the occasion of his election, but
not a burden that
St.
new
said, "Clearly,
is
borne alone.
Benedict, a sixth-century guide to
monastic and Christian
Burnett.
"God has been recklessly generous to me over many fruitful years. Being elected abbot
at
over 65 years-of-age
chose, but I am in good hands.
remain grateful to you for
is
no easy
shall
this
always
day of
my
when all of you gathered here to Bishop Donoghue in blessing me."
blessing join
Abbot Burnett
life.
I
will serve as abbot for
Abbot Burnett will supervise all religious and temporal affairs of the monastery.
He can be re-elected for another eight-year term. He succeeds Benedictine
In addition to his monastic responsibihties,
Father Timothy Kelly of
Abbot Burnett serves as chancellor of Belmont Abbey College. "Abbot Oscar, you do not stand alone,"
in Collegeville, Minn.,
said
Bishop Donoghue, "today, nor
future of your service of
in the
eight years.
St.
John's
Abbey
who was serving as
temporary administrator.
Catholic Schools
Week
Belmont Abbey.
You stand with the prayers, the support, the affection, theencouragementofus all. all,
Above
your fellow monks pledged with you
to
hasten the heavenly country, will stand with
you, receiving you as their abbot with sincere and
humble
affection."
"Since 1887
was blessed
when Abbot Leo Haid
as the
first
Abbot of Belmont,
abbey has made precious and important contributions to the Diocese of Raleigh, and this
since 1972
Ishop John F. Donoghue, retired Bishop Michael narlotte concelebrate a '0
people attended the
J.
Mass for the unborn Jan. 19 Mass and heard a plea to use
lp put an end to abortion.
when
lished, to the
Begley and other at St.
priests
of the Diocese of
Gabriel Church in Charlotte. About
their gifts to
promote the cause of life and Photo by
KAY FILAR
this
diocese
was
estab-
Diocese of Charlotte," said
Bishop Donoghue. Bishop Donoghue expressed his personal gratitude "for the assistance furnished
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